Cat Zingano explains why she was ‘so scared’ before UFC Boise

Zingano fought in a bantamweight bout with Marion Reneau on a three-fight losing skid. She hadn’t won since September 2014 but managed to get back on track with a unanimous-decision victory.

“I was so scared going into this fight,” Zingano told MMAjunkie after UFC Fight Night 133. “I was very, very scared. Coming off three losses, all of them were losses where I just didn’t show up, wake up. I felt out of it.

“To come in tonight, I wasn’t sure who would show up. I really just wanted to dance my dance and try to feel her and try to stay off rhythm and be wild and crazy and me.”

“I worked so hard for so long without any of the results I wanted,” Zingano said. “I’m grateful for all the steps I took to get here. Although not all of them looked the way I wanted them to, it’s all part of this. I’m grateful and thankful, for everyone and everything along the way, and I’m able to know myself through all of this, and it’s nice to be here, and it’s nice to feel myself again.”

The 36-year-old hasn’t hesitated to share her thoughts on a rematch with Amanda Nunes.

“I think we’ve got some unfinished business,” Zingano said. “I think it’s weird for me to call her out. She should call me out. It drives me crazy seeing people that (I’ve beaten) go on. She seems pretty not worried about me. But now that I’m in the W column, she’s got no reason not to lock horns with me again.

“She’s good. She’s been a good champion. She’s been dominant. But she hasn’t done a whole lot that I feel has evolved past what I’ve done to her. It’s time. The time’s coming.”